A Spectacular Opening for the ICC World Cup

After an absence of fifteen years, the sub-continent, and more precisely Bangladesh, opened the 2011 ICC World Cup in spectacular fashion! The Bangabandhu Stadium in Dhaka was especially renovated for the occasion. The thousands of spectators were thrilled by the live entertainment, fireworks and parade that marked the beginning of the cricket world cup. It was an evening to remember, and performances by Bryan Adams raised the crowd to their feet. Even the captains of the fourteen participating cricket teams were included in the festivities.

Looking at the artists and performers at the show, Bryan Adams was most definitely the highlight of the event. He also got together with well-known Indian artist Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, with whom he composed De Ghuma Ke, the theme song for the World Cup. Adams thrilled the crowd with other favorite hit songs, including 18 Till I Die and Summer of 69. Other artists for the evening included Mumtaz, Runa Laila, Ebrar Tipu, Sonu Nigam and Sabrina Yasmin, to name a few. The songs sang throughout the opening were done in Hindi, Bangla and English.

The captains of the cricket teams were taken on unique tricycle rides, with dancers and music setting the mood, and later brought out in colorful rickshaws. A few speeches and words from officials concluded the two hour opening ceremony and set in motion the 2011 ICC World cup, of which the first match was played two days later. Some of the speakers included Bangladeshi Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, as well as Sharad Pawar, the President of the ICC.

India was up against Bangladesh in the first match of the World Cup Series. They played at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur, on 19 February 2011, where India won their game by 87 runs. The second match was between New Zealand and Kenya on the 20th of February at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, and New Zealand won by ten wickets. Hambantota International Cricket Stadium was the venue for the third game between Canada and Sri Lanka, with Sri Lanka beating their opponents by 210 runs. The stage has been set for a very interesting and thrilling 2011 ICC World Cup.